Multiple unit carpet scrubbing machine



Nov. 29, 1960 H. D. RENCH ETAL MULTIPLE UNIT CARPET SCRUBBING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 i H Ind.

M /Z INVENTORS HARRY D.RENCH HERBERT w. HARRIS ATTORNEYS Nov. 29, 1960 H. D. RENCH EI'AL 2,951,673

MULTIPLE UNIT CARPET SCRUBBING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 \\\x VIIIIIIIII; 'IIIIIIIII/m INVENTORS HARRY D. RENCH 48 HERBERT W. HARRIS ATTORNEYS Nov. 29, 1960 H. D. RENCH ETAL MULTIPLE UNIT CARPET SCRUBBING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 25, 1958 INVENTORS HARRY D. RENCH HERBERT W. HARRIS 4 ATTORNEYS United States Patent MULTIPLE UNIT CARPET SCRUBBING MACHINE Harry D. Rench and Herbert W. Harris, Racine, Wis., assignors to Racine Industrial Plant, Inc., Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Aug.'25, 1958, Ser. No. 756,943

' 7 Claims. (Cl. 15-41) This invention appertains to the dry cleaning of carpets lying directly on the floor in homes, hotels, I building establishments and the like and, more particularly, to a carpet scrubbing machine for working a cleaning compound back and forth through the nap, pile or the like of a carpetas shown and described in our prior Patent No. 2,842,788 which issued July 15, 1958.

.In the mentioned patent, a carpet scrubbing machine unit of acertain width-is shown for home use with means for coupling two units together to form a single machine for facilitating the cleaning of large areas of carpets.

In hotels and theaters, great areas of carpets have to be cleaned at "frequent intervals and a machine of a greater widththan'the two unitsis desirable, so that suchareas can be expeditiously cleaned. A machine of great width andlong brushes is not preferableor feasible as such a machine would be costly, heavy and difiicult to manipulate and'the same could not be used in confined areas andthis would necessitate the manufacturing of different widths of machines.

It is' therefore one oftheprimary'objects of this invention to provide a simple and novel means for detachably connecting'four units (of the type shown in the; patent) together in longitudinal alignment, to form a single width machine, the arrangement being such that the four units will be comparatively light in weight and will be easy to manipulate and guide, the connecting means being such that the units can be quickly detached and operated one from the other for independent use in confined quarters.

Another salient object .of the invention is the provision of means for electrically connecting the units together so that all four units canbe controlled from a single switch and with the use of only one extensioncord.

A further important object of the invention is to connect the basesof two units together as shown in Figure 11 of the patent and to dispose the pairs of connected units in longitudinal alignment and to remove the manipulatinghandles of the two innermost 'units of the pairs and to substitute therefor a novel connecting block for the two innermost units whereby the bases. of all four units will'be firmly and rigidly united.

A still'further object of the invention is to provide the connecting block witha control switch for the vfour units and outlet boxes so arranged that the motors of the four units can be electrically connected together.

A still further important object of the invention is the provision of novel means for 'detachably connecting the inturnedhandle bar ends of the handles ofthe outermost-units together by a rigid handle rod, wherebya single U-shaped rigid handle will be had for manipulating the unitstogether as. a single machine.

A stillfurtherimportant object of the inventionis to arrange the four units of the machine together in-such .a manner thatall of the brushes of'the units on one side will be rotating in one direction and all of the brushes .of the units on the other side wilbe rotating in the'same direction relative toone another but in a reverse direction relative'to the'first mentioned brushes, whereby the machine can be-slightly tilted so that the machine will ride eitheron all ofthe'brushes on one side or all of the brushes on the other side to facilitate the propelling of the machine in the desired direction overa carpet Without undueefiort on the part of the operator.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in-which drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view showing four units operatively connected together to forma single wide machine;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the connecting handle of the four units with the extension handle rod connected with the handle bar of one outermost unit and disconnected from the handle bar of the other outermost machine, -parts of the view being broken away and in sec tion;

Figure '3 is a detailed fragmentary, longitudinal sectional View taken on the line 33 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows illustrating the locking means utilizedfor detachably securing the connecting handle rod with an adjacent handlebar of an outermost unit;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary'top plan view with the parts broken away and insection illustrating the novel means employed for rigidly connecting the bases of two innermost units together;

Figure 5 is a detailedvertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of'Figure' 1 looking in the direction of the arrows illustrating the means utilized for detachably connecting the connecting block with one innermost unit;

Figure 6 is a detailed vertical sectionalvieW-taken on the line 6--6 of Figure llooking in i the direction of the arrows illustrating the connectingblockfor the two in 'nermost-mac'hines andthe means carried by the connecting block for holding the switch ofan innermost machinein a desiredset positiomand Figure? is a diagrammatic view illustrating the rneans for electrically connecting andcontrolling the motors of the four units.

Referring to -'-the drawings "in detail wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letterM generally indicates the wide carpet scrubbing machine and the same includes four independent carpet scrubbing units U. The improvement resides in the novel means of coupling the units U together in longitudinal alignment to form the Wide carpet scrubbing rnachine M.

The units U are ofthe same typegcharacterrand 'construction :as shown in ourPatent "No. 72,842,788 :issued July 15, 1958 and hence the units U willnot'be described in minute detail. However, each unit 'Uaincludesta frame 10, which can be in the nature of .a'casting disposed at one side of the unit and this casting also constitutes a housing for a drive and reduction gearing operatively connecting an electric motor 11 with oppositely rotating brushes 12. The brushes 12 are disposed in parallel relation and are rotated in adirectionitoward onewanother. The upper end of the frame "10 carries :an inwardlyJdirected sleeve 13 which supportsitherrnotor llxand :the casing of the motor rotates oniithe=sleevei 13. *Means is provided for holding the casing ofthermotor1'1:against turning movement when such? is. desired. Rigidly-secured to one end ofthe casing oftheimotor 11.-is:.a:.l1ousingn14, whiohforms asupport forwariousapartsl/of the: unit, .as will now be set forth. Formed on or secured .to:=.'the housing. 14 is a laterally projecting, hand ;grip':l15 which forms means forhandlingandmanipulating asuniteon stairways and the like. Arranged .within the-housing 14 is a normally open switch (not; shown) for :controlling the flow of current to the electric motor 11 and this switch is closed by the upward movement of a switch hand lever 16. An extension cord 17 leads into the housing 14 and this extension cord is plugged into an electric outlet when the unit is being used alone. The housing 14 also carries an electric outlet 18 for a purpose which will later appear. The upper end of the housing 14 has formed therein a tapered socket 19. This tapered socket normally receives the lower end of a main manipulating handle 20. The manipulating handle 20 is of an elongated form whereby a unit can be manipulated over a carpet from a standing position by an operator. The upper end of the handle 20 has formed thereon a laterally extending handle bar 21. The handle bar 21 is of a hollow construction and has pivoted thereto a switch handle 22 and this handle through the medium of a rod 23 also operates the lower switch lever 16. A sliding button 24 is provided for locking the handle 22 in a raised position with the motor switch in a closed position. In Figure 7 a wiring diagram is shown and the motor switch is indicated by the reference character 25 in such diagram. The upper end of the housing 14 pivotally carries a latch 26 for detachably locking the handle 20 against accidental displacement. This latch is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a pivot pin 27 and the inner end of this latch has formed thereon a cam shaped latching lug 28. When four machines are coupled together, the sockets 19 of certain units are employed for facilitating the connection of units, as will later appear. In this connection, it is to be noted that two sets of units are connected in pairs in the same manner as shown in Figure 11 of our mentioned patent and that these two sets of units are then coupled together to form the four unit wide machine, as shown in Figure 1 of the present case. In this instance, however, the handles 20 of the innermost units of the two pairs are removed and a connector block 29 is utilized for rigidly securing the two innermost units of the sets together and the handles 20 of the outermost units of the sets are also connected in a novel manner and by the use of a connector bar 30.

In connecting two units together to form a set, the frames of such units are rigidly secured together by latches 31 carried by the frames and these latches are clearly shown in Figure of the patent.

Now referring to the connector block 29, the same can be in the nature of a casting and includes a central 'hollow body portion 32 forming a housing for certain electrical parts. Extending laterally from one face of the body 32 are arms or plates 33. The hollow body is open at its front and this open portion is closed by a plate 34. The plate 34 carries electrical outlet sockets 35 and 36. Leading into the housing and electrically connected with the outlet sockets is a main extension cord 37 which can be plugged into a convenient building electrical outlet. The housing or hollow body 32 is also provided with a main electrical control switch 38 which is operated from the upper side of the housing as best shown in Figures 1 and 4 and when four units are coupled together, the switch 38 controls the flow of current to all of the motors of the four units. At the points of juncture of the arms 33 with the body 32, the connector block 29 is provided with (see Figure 5) depending studs 39 carrying tapered plugs 40. These plugs 40 are snugly received within the sockets 19 of the innermost units U of the connected sets of units. Each plug 40 is provided with a lock way 41 for the reception of the inner cam ends of the latches 26. This holds the connector block in rigid position on the innermost units of the sets and firmly unites these innermost units together.

By referring to Figures 3 and 7 of the patent, it can be seen that when the handle 22 is depressed, the switch hand lever 16 is operated and that the handle 22 can be locked by the sliding button 24 in a circuit closing position. Thus when the four units are connected together the handles 22 of the outermost units U of the pairs of units are locked in their circuit closing position. The innermost units U of the pairs of units also have the switch hand levers 16 locked in a circuit closing position. This is accomplished by providing the ends of the arms 33 of the connector block 29 with pivoted hook shaped latches 42. With the switch handles 16 in their raised positions, the latches 42 are swung under the switch handle 16 and effectively hold the switch handles in their raised positions (see Figure 6).

Now referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 7, it can be seen that the extension cords 17 of the outer most units U of the sets of units are plugged into the outlets 35 and 36 of the connector block 29 and that the extension cords 17 of the innermost units U of the sets of units are plugged into the electric outlets 18 of the outermost units U. The main extension cord 37 of the connector block 29 includes feed and return electric wires 43 and 44 and the wire 44 has interposed in its length the main control switch 38 carried by the connector block. These wires are, in turn, electrically connected to the outlet 35 of the connector block. Branch wires 45 and 46 are electrically connected respectively with the wires 43 and 44 and are, in turn, electrically connected with the outlet 36 carried by the block. The extension cord 17 for the outermost unit on the left hand side (see Figure 1) includes electric wires 47 and 48 and as stated, this extension cord is plugged into the outlet 35. The wires 47 and 48 are electrically connected with the motor 11 of the outermost unit on the left hand side and to the outlet 18 of this outermost left hand side unit. The extension cord 17 for the unit U on the outermost right hand side (see Figure 1) includes wires 49 and 50 and this extension cord is plugged into the outlet 36 and the wires, in turn, are electrically connected with the motor 11 of this right hand unit and the outlet 18 of this right hand unit. The extension cords 17 of the two innermost units U are plugged into the outlets 18 of the two outermost units and as the switches 25 of all of the units are held in a circuit closing position, current to all of the motors is controlled by the switch 38.

From the description so far, it can be seen that the bases or frames of all four units can be firmly and rigidly connected together and that all four of the units can be electrically connected together.

As previously brought out, the inturned handle bars 21 of the outermost units U are connected together by a connector bar 30. The connector bar 30 can be of a hollow construction and the terminals of the connector bar carry sliding lock bolts 51. The inner end of each bolt 51 carries a spring pressed headed thumb piece 52 and this thumb piece normally projects through a longitudinally extending slot 53 formed in the connector bar 30. Each slot 53 is in the nature of a key hole slot and hence the same is provided at space points with circular enlargements 54 and 55, which constitute keeper portions for the spring pressed thumb piece 52 for the two positions of the bolts. Upon the depressing of the headed thumb piece 52, the head thereof is moved inwardly beyond the keeper enlargements 54 and 55. so that a bolt 51 can he slid back and forth and when the thumb piece is released, the head thereof seats in a selected keeper opening 54 or 55 to hold a bolt against sliding movement. The outer end of each bolt is provided with a hook shaped' extension or knuckle 56 for a purpose which will now appear. Each laterally extending handle bar 21 is also provided with a locking bolt 57 which corresponds to the locking bolts 51 of the handle bar extension 30 and these bolts 57 are the same as the bolts 128 shown in the patent. However, by referring to Figure 2 it can be seen that each bolt 57 is provided with a hook shaped or knuckle portion 58. Each bolt 57 is slidable back and forth in the handle bar 21 and each handle bar is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 59 having spaced circular keeper portions 60 and 61. Each bolt 57 carries a headed outwardly spring pressed thumb piece 62 which is the same as the thumb piece 52 of the handle bar. When the headed portion of the thumb piece slides into a selected keeper opening 60 or 61, the thumb piece and consequently a bolt is held against sliding movement.

In order to connect the extension handle bar 30 with the handle bars 21 of the outermost units, the bolts 51 and 57 are slid to their outermost positions with the knuckles 56 and 58 exposed. The knuckles are now interlocked and the same will be in longitudinal alignment. The thumb pieces 52 and 62 are depressed and the bolts are slid respectively into the handle bar extension 30 and into the handle bars 21 until the heads of the thumb pieces 52 and 62 are in registration with the keeper portions 55 and 60. At this time the thumb pieces 52 and 62 are released and the same will spring into the keeper openings 55 and 60 and at this time the bolts 51 and 57 will be pulled into the handle bars 21 and into the outer ends of the handle bar extension 30. Consequently, the knuckles of the bolts will be held against dislodgement.

Thus a U-shaped manipulating handle is provided for the four units and the four unit machine can be easily manipulated and handled as a single unitary device.

The four unit machine is manipulated in the same manner as a single or dual unit machine and the brushes are employed for working back and forth the cleaning com.- pound which has been spread on a carpet.

The complete machine can be tilted slightly backward or forward so as to ride with a desired pressure on the front or rear sets of brushes and this will facilitate the movement of the complete machine back and forth over a carpet without undue effort on the part of an operator.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that we have provided a satisfactory means for cleaning wide areas of carpets by connecting four units together by the use of the novel connector block 29 and the handle bar extension 30 and that the four units constituting a wide machine can be easily and quickly separated so that each one of the units can be manipulated independently for their particular functions.

Various changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention, but what we claim as new is:

1. A carpet scrubbing machine comprising pairs of identical units, each of said units including a frame, a pair of elongated horizontally disposed scrubbing brushes rotatably mounted on the frame for direct engagement with the carpet being scrubbed, an electric motor on the frame, means for simultaneously rotating the brushes from the motor, said units of the pairs being positioned side by side with the brushes of one unit in substantial longitudinal alignment with the brushes of the other unit of the pair, means for detachably locking the units of each pair together for simultaneous operation, means including a separable connector black body for detachably connecting the innermost units of the pairs of units together, manipulating handles carried by the frames of the outermost units of the pairs, said handles having inwardly extending handle bars, and a handle bar extension detachably connecting the handle bars together and forming a single manipulating handle for the complete machine.

2. A carpet scrubbing machine comprising pairs of identical units, each of said units including a frame, a pair of elongated horizontally disposed scrubbing brushes rotatably mounted on the frame for direct engagement with the carpet being scrubbed, an electric motor on the frame, means for simultaneously rotating the brushes from the motor, each frame having a handle receiving socket, said units of each pair being positioned side by side with the brushes of one unit in substantial longitudinal alignment with the brushes of the other unit, means for locking the units of the pair together for simultaneous operation, the pairs of units being positioned side by side with the brushes of the pairs of units in substantial alignment, manipulating handles detachably fitted within the sockets of the outermost units having inwardly directed handle bars on their upper terminals, a handle bar extension detachably connecting the handle bars together to form a single manipulating handle for the pairs of units, and means connecting the innermosts units of the pairs together including a connector block having depending studs detachably fitted in the sockets of the innermost units of the pairs of units.

3. A carpet scrubbing machine as defined in claim 1, and means for electrically connecting the motors of all of the units together including outlets carried by the connector block, an extension cord leading into the connector block and electrically connected with the outlets, an electric switch on the block for controlling the flow of current to the outlets, means electrically connecting the motors of the outermost units of the pairs of units with the outlets, and means electrically connecting the outermost units with the motors of the innermost units of the pairs of units.

4. A carpet scrubbing machine as defined in claim 1, and means for electrically connecting the motors of the pairs of units electrically together including electric outlets carried by the block, a feed connector cord leading into the block and electrically connected to the outlets, a main control switch carried by the block for controlling the flow of current to the outlets from the connector cord, each of said units of the pairs of units having control switches for their motors, means holding the last named control switches in circuit closing position, means electrically connecting the motors of the outermost pairs of units with the outlets carried by the connector block, and means electrically connecting the motors of the innermost units with the outermost units of the pairs of units.

5. A carpet scrubbing machine as defined in claim 2, and means electrically connecting all of said units together including electric outlets carried by the connector block, an extension electric cord leading into the block and electrically connected with the outlets, a main switch carried by the connector block for controlling the flow of current to the outlets, each of said units having control switches including pivoted operating handles, means locking the operating switch handles of the outermost units from the handle bars in circuit closing position, and pivoted latches carried by the connector block engaging and locking the switch handles of the innermost units of the pairs of units in circuit closing position.

6. A carpet scrubbing machine as defined in claim 2, and said connector block extending longitudinally of the innermost units and overlying portions of the innermost units.

7. A carpet scrubbing machine as defined in claim 2, and said means carried by the connector block engaging in said handle sockets including depending studs having tapered plugs snugly engaging the walls of the sockets, and means detachably latching the plugs in the sockets against accidental dislodgement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,348,268 Smith May 9, 1944 2,842,788 Rench July 15, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 383,452 Great Britain Nov. 17, 1932 OTHER REFERENCES Scientific American, volume CVI, number 7, Feb. 17, 1912, page 161. 

